Page 40 of Courting the Tiger King

Neah swung Sonnet up and over one shoulder before doing the same with Zennon on her other side, grunting at the weight. She just had to make it to the healers.

Then she ran, grateful for every heartbeat she could feel against her shoulder as she pushed herself harder than ever before. The corridors blurred around her and she concentrated on putting one foot in front of the other until, finally, she reached the corridor of the healer’s wing and nearly crashed into Gabriel, Skye, and Wren.

Gabe took Sonnet immediately and Neah sucked in a breath, grateful for the relief, before marching through the doors and swinging Zennon down gently, depositing her on the closest bed. Five healers immediately flocked, assessing Zennon much like Sonnet had with their hands hovering over her body.

“What happened?”

Neah wasn’t sure who asked, didn’t want to look away from Zennon for even a second lest she miss her last breaths. “Magic. Sonnet fixed the spell that was weighing on Zennon’s soul, but she said there was poison in the body.”

The healer closest to Neah nodded. “You’re lucky that there was a lunar witch here, otherwise there’s nothing we would have been able to do.”

“But now?” Neah held her breath until black spots swam in her vision.

“I’ve got her. I think you got her here just in time, thanks to your friend’s magic.”

Just in time. She was going to be okay.

“Yes,” the healer said and Neah startled, not realising she’d said the words aloud. “I need room to work. Go and wait in the seating area and I’ll come and get you when I’m done.”

Neah’s breath shook. “Okay. Thank you.” The racing of her heart finally began to slow and she was grateful for the hand that wrapped around her waist as the room tilted to the left from the force of her adrenaline crash.

She’s going to be okay.

“Yes,caritas. She’s going to be okay. You did so good.” The words were nonsense, soothing murmurs, the familiar scent of forest and sweetness surrounding her, and it was only when she leaned her head back that she realised they’d made it to the chairs and Wren had her cradled on his lap. His hands tightened when she moved before his grip went slack, giving her the option to leave if she chose. She didn’t move.

“And Sonnet?”

“Tired, but fine. Lunar witch magic works slightly different to other witches, her magic takes a part of her when she uses it. Sometimes it’s energy, like with other witches, but sometimes it’s life force.” Sonnet had given up some of her life to heal Zennon? The shock on her face must have been apparent because Wren chuckled. “Sonnet would never let someone die if she could help it,caritas.”

Neah’s eyes had slipped closed without her meaning to and they flashed open at his words. “What does that mean? Caritas?” She pronounced it awkwardly and Wren’s smile faded, a more intense look framing his face and lighting his eyes.

“Precious, or rare.” He spoke in a raw murmur and Neah didn’t know what to say, so she just nodded. “I’m sorry this happened.”

“How did you know?” she asked around a yawn and Wren nodded to the side where Skye and Gabriel stood at the end of Sonnet’s bed.

“Skye had a feeling. A strong one. So we came.”

“Thank you,” she mumbled and sighed when a hand stroked over her hair, lulling her to sleep as her body finally gave out. “M’just closing my eyes. Watch her.”

Neah fell asleep to the sound of Wren’s answering chuckle. “Sleep, Neah.”

Neah jolted awake, unsure what her body had sensed that was concerning enough to wake her. A heavy tension sat in the air and she jumped when a hand stroked gently at her hair, as if to soothe her.

Wren.She’d fallen asleep in his lap.

Neah scrambled upright, avoiding looking at the king. With everything going on, she’d forgotten what her father had told her and had instead allowed herself to be driven by instinct. Regardless of his intentions, Wren meant safety, and her body had recognised that when it needed to crash. But now, she was awake and alert and remembered that she was pissed.

She was momentarily distracted from her anger by the sight of Sonnet and Zennon sitting up in their respective beds, pale but alive. “You’re awake,” she breathed, immediately walking over to take her sister’s hand, and Zennon’s answering smile was tired. “How are you feeling?”

“Like I nearly died,” she mused and then glanced at Sonnet in the bed next to her. “I’m just lucky you were here, Sonnet.”

“Mm,lucky,” Skye said, more than a hint of a growl in the words and Neah’s shoulders tensed. “What?” Skye protested when they all turned to look at him. “Zennon had a soul-curse placed on her, the king of magic that a lunar witch specialises in, and we’re supposed to believe that it’s a coincidence that one of the only lunar witches?—”

“I’m not the only lunar witch left in existence,” Sonnet said, her eyes narrow and tone raspy as she cut Skye off.

Skye rolled his eyes and stood up from the chair he’d claimed near Wren, making to step forward and drawing up short when Neah blocked his way.

“If Sonnet cursed Zennon, only to then sacrifice some of her own life force to heal her, then she’s an idiot.”

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